Vehicle lamp



March 4, 1958 1.. R. JULIEN 2,825,799

VEHICLE LAMP Filed Dec. 31, 1956 five/#011 fazmk'gqq'i' alien W United rates Patent VEHICLE LAMP Louis Roger Julien, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application December 31, 1956, Serial No. 631,864 1 Claim. (Cl. 240-521) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in advertising devices and more particularly to means for mounting a sign on a conveyance such as a vehicle for hire.

The principal object of my invention is to removably support an advertising sign box on vehicles for hire.

Another object of the invention is to removably support a sign box, containing electrical illuminating means, without the employment of tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flanged top base permanently secured to the top of a taxicab for slidably receiving and securing thereon a flanged support for a translucent or transparent lamp box having electrical connections for illuminating means in the box.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a lamp box support of durable, simple construction, is easy to install, reliable in use and inexpensive to manufacture.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle with the invention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lamp box and supporting base in disassembled relation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view of the invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the supporting base.

Referring now to the drawings, in detail, it will be seen that the reference character 1 designates an elongated anchoring base of dielectric material substantially T-shaped in transverse section. The base 1 is fixedly secured to a supporting surface such as a vehicle top 2 through the medium of longitudinally spaced screws 3 and 4. The screw 4 is provided with a convex head as shown in Figure 4 and serves as an electrical conductor by being in contact with the metal top 2 of the vehicle. Electrical energy from a battery in the vehicle is conducted to a convex headed screw 5, which is insulated from the metal top 2 by an insulator 6, through the medium of a wire 7.

The longitudinal flanges of the fixed T-shaped anchoring base 1 slidably receive thereunder the inturned flanges 9 of a substantially U-shaped lamp box support 10.

Patented Mar. 4, 1958 "ice The lamp box support 10 is secured by means of screws or the like 11 to the bottom 12 of the lamp box 13 and supports the lamp box 13 in an inclined position as shown in Figure 3.

The lamp box 13 is constructed of transparent or translucent material and has mounted on the bottom 12 thereof an incandescent lamp 14 connected by wires 15 to the screw threaded posts 16.

Substantially U-shaped spring contact members 17 secured to the bottom side of the bottom 12 of the lamp box 13 by threaded posts 16, serve to conduct electric current to the posts 16 from the two contacts 4 and 5. The free ends of the contacts 17 are curved to conform with the convex heads of the contacts 4 and 5 to insure good contact.

The U-shaped lamp box support 10 has secured on its bottom side at the corners thereof resilient buttons or pads 18 to provide frictional contact with the metal top 2 and hold the lamp box 13 steady under vibrating conditions.

Figure 5 shows a modified form of anchoring base structure 19 wherein a flange 20 is provided to eliminate the necessity of the resilient buttons 18.

The operation of the device is thought to be manifest but may be described as follows:

When the lamp box 13 is mounted, as shown in Figure 4, current flows through the wire 7 to screw 5, through one spring contact 17, one post 16 and thence to the incandescent lamp 14. The lamp 14 is grounded through wire 15 to the other post 16, remaining spring contact 17, to contact 4 then to the metal top 2 of the vehicle.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the structure and application thereof, and that any change or changes may be made in the structure and arrangement of the several parts within the limits of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the character described, a support for a. lamp including a vehicle top, an anchoring T-shaped base fixed on said vehicle top, conductors extending through said vehicle top and fixed anchoring base, said conductors ending in a convex head, a U-shaped lamp support having inturned flanges releasably engageable with said T-shaped base, a lamp box including a bottom fixed on said support, an incandescent lamp in said lamp box, conductors extending through said bottom and connecting said incandescent lamp to spring contact members mounted under said bottom, the free ends of said spring members being curved to conform with said convex heads, and resilient pads fixed under said support for engagement with said vehicle top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,205,169 Hallman June 18, 1940 2,688,688 Holtz Sept. 7, 1954 2,754,410 Thielorn July 10, 1956 

